Killer of Sheep
March 30th, 2007
I’m hitting the road for a quarter of Phish in a minute and seeing QT’s latest tonight (updates on Twitter), so I’ll make this quick. Charles Burnett’s classic of black independent cinema has finally arrived in theaters thirty years after it’s been made, but to be honest, I don’t think the years have treated it kindly. No doubt, in 1977, this must have been an extraordinary and unique film. The artistry and historical value is undeniable, but it didn’t connect with me in a real emotional way and we’ve seen most of its moves many times in the interim. We’ve seen David Gordon Green’s George Washington, we’ve seen urban ennui and indie verite understatement, and we’ve seen Sarah Vaughn been used better by Tom Tykwer–not to speak of the slaughterhouse floor, which we’ve just seen more than enough of (and in color!) in Fast Food Nation and Our Daily Bread. Still, something about this is stuck in my craw and I might give it another spin soon.
Killer of Sheep. Charles Burnett, 1977. ***
Half Nelson
December 4th, 2006
It was one thing to find this little indie gem and be surprised and charmed by it; to come back to it half a year later, when it’s been singled out for praise and awards, makes for a slightly different experience. I’m still blown away by Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps, but the storytelling doesn’t quite work as well the second time around. The seams start showing, and it all feels just a tad safe, familiar, and constructed. The performances definitely make it worth seeing once though.
Half Nelson. Ryan Fleck, 2006. ***
- Marcy’s review of Half Nelson
- Half Nelson on Rotten Tomatoes
- Official Site
- Half Nelson Photo Gallery
[tags]film, 3 stars, ryan fleck, drugs, ryan gosling, shareeka epps, kids, school, teachers, race[/tags]
